Operator for counterbalanced elevator doors



Jan. 29, 1935. R PEELLE 1,989,148

OPERATOR FOR COUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l I L ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1935 PATENT OFFICE OPERATOR FOR COUNTERB ELEVATOR DOORS mono Robert s. Peellc, Hollis, N. Y., assignor m The Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y-, a corporation of New York Application September 28, 1933, Serial No. 691,397

- 12 Claims. I (01187-54) Myinvention relates to operators for counterbalanced elevator doors, and more particularly to an operator embodying therein an electric motor actuated mechanism and means controlling the circuit to the motor of said mechanism in a manner to ensure the operation of said motor at a reduced speed toward the final opening or closing movement of the door.

One type of electric operator now extensively used with counterbalanced elevator doors embodies a motor driven sheave for applying opening and closing power to the door, the chains, or other flexible connections, between the two door sections, passing about and frictionally engaging such sheaves. -With this construction, accuracy in the duration of the application of energy to the motors is not required, since a continued application of power thereto following the full opening or the full closing of a door, results merely in slippage between the sheaves and the chains or other flexible connections.

Prior to my present invention, operator mechanisms were so constructed as to impart a rapid opening and closing movement to a door, and in most instances, this high speed of the door was maintained until the doors had reached either their fully open, or their fully closed, position. The engagement of the truck bar of the lower door section with the stops upon the guide rail structure not only subjected the entire door structure to violent stresses, but often resulted in a rebound of both door sections to an extent to necessitate the application of manual power thereto to bring the sections into the fullyclosed or the fully open position. Any rebound also interfered with the operation of a lock or an electric interlock when closing a door.

To minimize likelihood of damage to the elevator door equipment and bodily injury to any one who might interpose a part of the body between the two sections, during closing of the doors, or who might trip upon the truck bar of the lower section in case of a rebound of the door sections; limit stop mechanisms so set as to interrupt the circuit to the door operator motor before the door sections had reached the fully open or the fully closed position, were sometimes used. When such limit stops were used, momentum or moving inertia of the door sections was relied upon to effect the final movement of the door section when opening or closing the doors. While this had the advantage that if any portion of the body of a user of the elevator were caught between the two door sections, the crushing power of the doors was much less than when there was continued application of motor power thereto, it hadthe disadvantage, that under different working conditions, even of the same door, it. could not be relied upon to avoid violent impact of the truck bar of the lower door section with its stops, or to effect a complete opening or closing of the door. This disadvantage arose from the fact that the acquired momentum of thedoor sections was not constant with varying resistance to movement of the door sections because of conditions about the guide rail structure and the door shoes. Furthermore, with doors of different weights, the setting of the limit stops had to be different and any great nicety in the adjustment of such stops was impracticable because of manufacturing and installation difilculties.

The practice of utilizing the momentum or moving inertia of the door sections for completing the opening or closing of the doors, is known as allowing the doors to "coast into the open or the closed position, and while it ailfords certain safeguards, it is neither satisfactory nor practicable.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided an operator for counterbalanced elevator doors, wherein the initial opening and closing movement of a door will be at high speed but wherein the final movement while under control of the motors operative upon the door, will be at a speed so low as to avoid any possibility of injury to any part of the body which may be caught between the door sections, and at the same time to avoid any shocks due to the impact of the lower door section with the truck bar stops upon the completion of the opening movement of the door or the impact of said sections with each other upon the completion of the closing movement of the door. The lowering of the speed of movement of the doorresults from the automatic actuation of the mechanism. controlling the circuit to the motors following the actuation of these mechanisms as a result of the closing of the car or hail switch, such being a manual operation.

The motors are utilized, in addition to their normal function of imparting movement to the door sections, to check movement of the doors under momentum acquired during the high speed prevailing during the major part of their opening or closing movements, and to complete such movements at a greatly reduced speed. This condition necessitates the interruption of the circuit to the motors by time limit switches operative prior to the door sections reaching either their fully open or their closed positions, there being provided a time interval between the motor actuation of the door sections at high speeds and between their motor actuation at low speed, during which interval the doors will coast.

The automatic change of pace mechanism and the setting of the time limit switches is preferably such as to cause the application ofpower for moving the doors at low speed for only a short interval prior to their reaching the fully open or the fully closed position, but if, by an improper timing in the operation of the various mechanisms, the door sections should be permitted to coast into their fully .open. or, their fully closed position, the motors-neverthelesswill' be energized in a manner to overcome any rebound of the door sections .as sure the bringing of both sections into their fully open or their fully closed position.

The arrangement is such that in the event of the interposition of any obstruction in the path of movement of (either door section toward the end of the opening or closingmovement thereof, there will be an instant stoppage .of the door, and with the removal of the obstruction, power will be immediately applied to the door to complete the opening or closing movement. If there should be a rebound of the door, following the completion of the openingor closing movement thereof, the power of the motor, will be immediately applied thereto to restore the'door to the fully open or the fully closed position. The arrangement of the mechanisms controlling the applicationof energy to themotor operative upon each door is such. as to ensure the operation of this motor throughout the greater portion of the time required to fully open, or close, the door at highspe ed, to interrupt thesupply of energy for a shortlinterval and finally apply energy to the motor at, a reduced potential to cause its operation at a relatively much lower speed. Notwithstanding thiscondition, the construction and arrangement ofparts is ,such that at any time in the event of an emergency during the opening or closing'move'mentof a door, and

particularly in closing'the' door; power for the operation of the door at high speed may be applied thereto by the actuation of the manually operative control switch for ,the main control mechanism.

Ordinarily, in operators of the type to which the invention relates, power isapplied to open or close the door by theselective'manual operation of one of two switches in an elevator car or in the hall, of a building, and when one of these switches has been actuated,a magnetic circuit holding device is energized so that continued manual control of the switch is unnecessary.

In an operator embodying the invention, there aretwo main control switches, one for causing the opening of the doorsan'd the other for causing the closing of the doors. Each of these control mechanisms is actuated as a result of the operation of a manually actuated switch, or in to the motors operative upon the door sections, are such that the main control mechanism may be automatically actuated, if desired, either as a result of the actuation of the micro mechanism for levelling an elevator car, which will result in opening of the door, or by the control lever effective to apply energy to the motors'for imparting movement to the car, which. will result in the closing of the door.

. The invention consists primarily in an operator forelevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means where- "by said motor maybe selectively connected with said line, of a normally open main opening switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electro-magnets may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary opening switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, and a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

1 Referring to the drawings,

' Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the electrical circuits and controls of an operator embodying the invention, as applied to one of aseries of doors in a shaft;

Fig. -2 is a detail view showing the main and secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms in conjunction with the means whereby the setting of one main or one secondary switch mechanism, prevents the actuation of the other such mechanisms;

' Fig. '3 is an electrical diagram showing the circuits which are set up when the normally operative opening switchis closed; and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the circuits set up following the opening of the main opening switch to interrupt the high potential circuit to the motors.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

An operator, of the general type to which the invention relates, is disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,872,043 granted to me under date of August 16th 1932. In the operator shown in said patent,

no limit switches are used, the duration of the application of energy to the motor or motors ad- 'jacent any door in a shaft being controlled by a time limit switch mechanism, the construction of which was such as to cause the interruption of the circuit to the motor or motors substantially simultaneously with the doorreaching the fully open position. In closing a door it was necessary,

to ensure a full closing thereof, to maintain a constant pressure upon the manually operative control switch in the elevator car or upon a floor of a building. In said operator the full power of the motors was developed throughout the entire opening or closing movement of the door, and there was a time interval during which the main opening switch mechanism could not be operated by the closing of the car or hall switch.

The operator of my present invention includes many of the characteristics of the operator described in the above patent, difiering therefrom mainly in the electrical conditions by which a door, during the major portion of its opening or closing movement, will be operated at high speed; "will be permitted to coast toward the end of the opening movement; and, just prior to its reaching the fully open or the fully closed position, will be operated at a speed so low as to avoid possibility of a rebound of either door section and ensure the maintenance of the door in the fully open or the fully closed position.

A door upon which the operator of the present application is to be used may be equipped with the usual locks and electrical interlocks, these, however, having no modifying effect upon the action of the operator mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at 10 the upper section of one of a series of counterbalanced doors in a shaft, and at 11, the lower. door section.

Secured to the opposite sides of the sections 10 and 11 respectively are flexible connections 12 and 13 passing about sheaves l4 and 15 turned through suitable gearing by reversible electric m0- tors 16 and 1'7, there being one or two such motors adjacent each door in a. shaft.

Extending throughout the elevator shaft are conductor wires 18, 1'9 and 20, this line, at all times when opening or closing power is not to be applied to a door in a shaft, being dead.

The motors 1'6 and 1'7 are three phase alternating current motors, and the power for operating same is received from the electrical mains 21, 22 and 23.

Arranged adjacent each door in a shaft is a switch mechanism 24 having a movable contact member 25 adapted to be engaged by a shoe 26 carried by the elevator car, this arrangement being an old expedient to prevent the application of energy to the motors adjacent-any door in a shaft unless the elevator car is adjacent the door opening closed by said doors. One of the contacts in said shaft switch mechanism 24 is connected by the line 2'7 with corresponding poles of the motors 16 and 1'7, another contact of said shaft switch mechanismis connected by the line 28 with noncorresponding pole terminals of said motors, and the line 18 is in direct connection through the lead 29 with non-corresponding pole terminals of said motors. This arrangement is necessary because each motor 16 or 17, during either the opening or closing of a door, is required to turn in a direction opposite to the other. The reversal of the motors, according to whether or not it is desired to open or to close a door, results from the wiring of the main opening and the main closing switches and the secondary opening and the secondary closing switches associated therewith respectively in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

In the penthouse, or in any otherreadily accessible locality, I provide a switch mechanism embodying therein a main opening and a main closing switch through which current from the motor to'the lines '21, 22 and23 of the electrical mains maybe selectively applied to the shaft wires 18, Hand so for operating at their maximum speed the motors 16 and 17 acting upon any door. This switch mechanism also inciudes a secondary opening and a secondary clomng switch mechanism connected in parallel with the main opening and closing switch mechanism, said secondary switches being adapted to connect the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20 with the main lines 21, 22 and 23 through electrical resistance devices in two of the lines, so that with the closing of the circuits by said switches, the motors 16 and 17 will be operated at low speed.

Associated with each main and its associated secondary switch, is a time controlled switch mechanism controlling the secondary switch.

Referringto the drawings, the main opening switch is shown at 30, the secondary opening switch connected in parallel therewith at 31 and the time controlled switch controlling the actuation of said secondary switch at 32.

'The switch'SO includes therein three fixed contacts 33, 34 and 85, and three movable contacts 36, 3'1 and'38 co-opera'ting therewith and connected to move in unison. The movable contacts are acted upon by an electro-magnet having a winding 39. The fixed contacts 83, 34 and 35 are in direct electrical connection with the mains 21, 22 and 23 and the movable contacts 36, 3'7 and 38 are in electrical connection through the leads 40, 41 and 42 with the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20 respectively.

The secondary opening switch 31 has three fixed contacts '43, 44 and 45 co-operating with which are three movable contacts 46, 47 and 48 which are connected to move in unison and are acted upon by an electro-magnet, the winding of which is shown at 49.

The time controlled switch embodies therein a movable contact 50 connected by a lead 51 with the line 23, and a second movable contact 52 connected by a lead 53 with one terminal of the winding 49 of the magnet operative upon the movable contacts of the secondary switch 31. Operative upon the contacts 50 and 52 is a movable bridge contact member 54 acted upon by a magnet havinga winding 55, and by a dash-pot 56 or other devicefor ensuring a delayed movement of the member 54. The winding is connected in parallel with-the winding 39 through leads 5'7 and 58.

One of the contacts of the secondary switch, as 47, is in direct electrical connection with one of the shaft lines as 19. The other two contacts of said switch mechanism are in electricalconnection with the shaft lines 18 and 20 respectively through resistances 59 and 60.

When the current is supplied to the shaft lines through the main opening switch mechanism 30, the full potential of the main is applied to said lines. Whencurrent is supplied the lines through the secondary opening switch mechanism, the potential applied to the lines is very much reduced by the resistances 59 and 60. For convenience of expression, the circuit controlled by the main opening switch may be termed a high potential circuit, while that controlled 'by'the secondary opening switch may be termed a low potential circuit.

Carried by the elevator car, or located in the hall of a building, is a manually operative opening control switch 6-1. One of the terminals of this switch is connected by a line 62 with the line 21 of the electrical main, and the other terminal thereof issconnected try a line 68 with the line 23 of the main, this line/63v including therein the winding 39 of the. e1ectro-magnet operative upon the main opening'switChJ.

Actuated by one of the contacts of: the main opening switch mechanism,.is a holding switch 64, one of the contactsof which is connected by a lead 65 with the line 62', and-another of which is connected by a lead 66 .with the Winding 39 of the electroemagnet of the main opening switch.

Includedin the.1ine-65\is awell known type of limit switch mechanism 67.

Connected across the lines 63 and 65 is a normally open switch mechanism 68 adapted to be operated by'a shoe 69 upon an elevator car as the car is being levelled adjacentany floor of a building, therebeing one of these switches 68 adjacent each floor. This shaft switch mechanism 68 is not essential to the operation of the operator of the invention, but may be provided, when desired, toensure the automatic opening of a door withoutthe necessity for actuating the manually operative control switch 61 as a car approaches a floor. The shoe 69 is of the receding. cam type so as to avoid the opening of the door at each floor of a shaftwith progress of the car. In'other words, by using a receding cam, the various switches 68 throughout the shaft are selectively operated.- l j r The limit switch .67 is so set in relation to the door movement that it will open the circuit, in which it is included, prior to the door reaching the fully open position. Its exact location is immaterial, although itshould be so located as to permit the doors to coastfor a short distance before the low potential circuit is applied to the motors through thesecondary opening switch mechanism. i

Themain closing switchzmechanism is shown at 70, and includes therein three fixed contacts 71, 72 and 73 and three movable contacts 74, 75 and 76, co-operating'therewith respectively and :connected to move in unison. The fixed contacts 71, 72 and 73 are in direct electrical connection with the mains 23, 22 and 21 respectively. The movable contacts 74, 75 and 76 are in electrical connection, with the, leads 41, 42 and 40 through the lines 77, 78 and 79, so that the phase relation-of the current forthe mains, as applied to the shaft lin es j1;8,-;19 and 20, will differ according to whether the switch mechanism 30 or the switch mechanism 70 is closed. This is to ensure the desired direction of rotation of the motors. i v

The secondary closing switch 80, associated with the main closing switch 70, has three fixed contacts 81, 82 and 83, co-operating with which are three movable contacts 84, 85 and 86 which are connected'to move in unison and are acted upon by an electro-magnet, the winding of which is shown at 87. v Y

The time controlled switch 88, operative upon the secondary switch30, embodies therein a movable contact 89 connected by a lead 90 with the line 23 and a second contact 91 connected by a lead 92 with the winding 87 of the magnet operative upon-the movable contacts of the second- -ary switch80.

contact 85 is in electrical connection through a lead 99 and the resistance 60 withthe shaft line 20, and the'contact 86 is: in electrical connection through a lead 100 and the resistance 59 with the shaft line 18.

The fixed contacts 43, 44 and 45 of the secclosing switch 70.

Carried by the elevator car or located in the hall of a building is a manually operative closing control switch 110; One of the terminals of this switch is in electrical connection through the lines 65 and 62 with one of the mains, 21. The other terminal of this switch is connected by a line 111 with the line 96 forming a part of the circuit including the winding 79 of the magnet operative upon the main closing switch and the winding. 94 of the time controlled switch 88.

Actuated by one of the contacts of the main closing switchmechanism is a holding switch 112, one of the contacts of which is connected by a lead 113 with the line 65, and another of which is connected by a lead 114 with the windings 79 and 94 of the electro-magnets of the main closing switch mechanism 70 and of the time controlled switch 88.

Included in the line 113 is a wellv known type of limit switch mechanism 115. Connected across the lines 111-113 is a normally' open. switch mechanism 116 actuated simultaneously with the actuation ofthe elevator car control mechanism. This mechanism comprises a movable contact member 117 connected by a lead 118 with the line 111, and two spaced contacts 119 and 120 with which the movable contact 117 is adapted to co-operate, according to whether the elevator car control mechanism is so used as to cause upward or downward move ment of the car. The contacts 119 and 120 are connected with the lead 113 by leads 121 and 122*respectively.

The switch mechanism 116 is not essential to the operation of the device, but may be used when it. is desired to automatically actuate the closing switches when starting a car after a door has been opened.

Arranged in the line 62 is anormally closed stop switch 123, by means of which all of the circuits in the device may be interrupted in the event-of an emergency.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the manually operative control switches 61 and 110 need be operated only momentarily when it is desired to open or close a door. Following their operation, the holding switch mechanism associated with the main opening switch or the main closing switch, becomes operative'to keep said main switches closed entirely independently of the manual control switches. The limit switch 67 or 115 interrupts the circuit closed by a holding switch mechanism after a door has had a certain quantity of movement. Following the opening. of a main'opening or closing switch mecha-- ,nism, due to the opening of aholding switch, and after a short interval determined by the actuation of a time controlled switch mechanism, a secondary opening or closing switch is actuated.

With this arrangement, it is possible, at any time, to actuate one of the manually operative control switches 61 or 110 to apply the high potential current to the shaft lines, since the circuit controlled by these manually operative control switches does not include the limit switches, which latter are included only in the circuit including the holding switches. It is possible, therefore, by maintaining either of the manually operative control switches closed by the application of constant pressure thereto, to 'cause'full opening or full closing movement of a door at the maximum speed.

Were means not provided to prevent suchpa condition, it would be possible, either accidentally or maliciously, to apply closing power to a door when the automatically controlled circuits were so set as to impart opening movement to that door. To avoid this, I provide means, actuated by power developed by the energizing of the electro-magnet for closing a main or secondary opening or closing switch, whereby when a main or a secondary opening or closing switch is closed, movement of the other opening or closing main or secondary switch until the door has been either fully opened or fully closed is prevented. This mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As heretofore described, the movableswitch members of the main or secondary opening and closing switches are connected to move in unison. These switches, in an actual installation, are closely adjacent each other, each main switch and its associated secondary switch being ar ranged one above the other.

Mounted intermediate the opening and closing switches is a rock shaft 124 having a cross arm 125, one end of which is in the path of movement of the movable contacts of the main opening switch mechanism 30, and the other end of which is in the path of movement of the movable contacts of the main closing switch mechanism 70. This shaft 124 also carries a. second cross arm 126, one end of which is in the path of movement of the movable contacts of the secondary opening switch mechanism 31 and the other end of which is in the path of movement of the movable contacts of the secondary closing switch mechanism 80.

It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 2, that movement of the movable contacts of either main or secondary closing switch mechanism will rock the shaft 124 and so position the ends of the arms 125 and 126 as to prevent movement of the movable contacts of the main or secondary opening switch mechanism The operation of the herein described operator for counterbalanced elevator doors is substantially as follows:

The main opening and closing switch mechanisms 30 and '70, the secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms 31 and 80, the time controlled switches 32 and 88, the holding switches 64 and 112, the shaft switch mechanism 24 and the manually operative opening and closing control switches 61 and 110 are all normally open. The stop switch 123 is closed at all times except in the event of an emergency when it is desired to interrupt the application of power to a door. The limit switches 67 and 115 are normally closed.

If a shaft switch 68 or a control switch 116 be used, the-former will be normally open until a car is brought to a stopata floor, and the latter will be normally open except when starting power is being applied to a car, after which, and so long as the car is in motion, theswitch should be normally open.

When a car is stopped at a floor and it is desired to open the door at that floor, the shoe 26 upon the car will have so actuated the switch mechanism 24 as to place the lines 27 and 28 in electrical contact with the shaft lines 19 and 20. These shaft lines, however, will not be charged.

The car attendant then closes the manually operative opening. control switch 61 by a rapid movement, immediately permitting the switch to open. The closing of the switch 61 closes the circuit from the line 21 through the stop switch 123, switch61, line 63, winding 39 of the electromagnetic switch of the main closing switch mechanism to the line 23. The energizing of the magnet including the coil 39 imparts movement to the contacts 36, 37 and 38 to engage them with the fixed contacts 33, 34 and 35.

Simultaneously with this actuation of the main closing switch mechanism, the branch circuit through the line 57, the winding 55 of the magnet of the time controlled switch mechanism and the line 58 to the mainline 23 is closed, thus energizing the electro-magnet of the time controlled switch mechanism.

Also simultaneously with the closing of the main opening switch mechanism, the holding circuit switch 64 is closed, setting up a circuit from the main line 21- through the'line 62, the stop switch 123, the line 65 including the limit switch 67 through the switch" mechanism 64,the line 66, thewindin'g 39 and the lead 63 to the main line 23, and also through the lead 5'7, winding 55 and lead 58 to the main line 23. This circuit is maintained so long as the limit switch 67 remains closed.

The energizing of the electro-magnet operative upon the time controlled switch imparts movement to the member 54 toward the dashpot structure 55, thus setting the time controlled mechanism and keeping it set so long as current is flowing through the winding 55. Movement of the member 54 momentarily closes the circuit controlledbythe contacts 50 and 52, but immediately thereafter opens the circuit at said contacts. This momentary closing of the circuit is due to the fact that the contact member 54 moves rapidly under the influence of the electro-magnet.

The circuits heretofore described are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the relation of parts therein shown being those which are maintained while the high potential current is being applied throughthe leads 40, 41 and 42 to the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20 respectively. The operation of the motors 16 and 17 and the mechanisms actuated thereby are as in the Letters Patent granted to me and above referred to, so that a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

When the door is approaching the fully open position, the limit switch 6'7 is actuated in the usual manner to open the circuit controlled thereby and by the holding switch mechanism 64. With the breaking of the circuit as a result of the opening of the limit switch 67, the magnet of the main opening switch mechanism, including the winding 39, and the magnet of the time controlled switch mechanism, including the winding 55, are both simultaneously de-energized, thus permitting the spring operative upon the movable contacts,36,'37 and 38, to move them away from the fixed contacts 33, 34 and 35, and thus interrupt the circuit to the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20. With the de-energizing of the magnet including the winding 55, the spring" operative upon the member54 is permitted to impart a movement of thismember in relation to-the contacts 50 .and"'52, one of which, 52, 'moves with the member 54. The movement of the member 54 is a slow movement so'that there may be an interval of one or two seconds following the starting of the movement of the said member before it engagesthe contact 50; As the contact 50 is a'movable contact, there willbe an interval of time'during' which the member 54 will be simultaneously engaged therewith and withthe contact 52, following which the member 54 will pass out of engagement with said contact 52 and thus again open the circuit.

The""construction of the mechanisms controlling the movements of the, member'54, and thearrangementof the contacts 50 and 52 may be such as to securea"desired'interval of time before the initial engagement of the member 54 with both contacts 50 and 52, and a desired interval 'oftime following such initial engagement until said member 54 passes outof engagement with the contact 52. During the first of these intervals, the door' movement I continues rby momentum only, but during thecontact interval a low potential current is delivered to the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20, so that the finaliopening movementof the door is at low speed. In fact, the instant that the low potential current is impressedl upon the' lines 18, 19 and20 and upon the motors .16 and 17, any excess speed of the doors under momentum will be instantly checked and this speed brought to that determined by the potential impressed upon the motors 16 and 17.

With the engagement of the member 54 with the contacts 50 and 52 a circuit will be set up, as is shown inli'ig. 4 of the drawings} In this circuit, current flows from the main 21, through the lead 62," stopswitch 123, lead 65, winding 49 of the electro magn'et operative upon the secondary opening switch, lead 53 to the contact 52, across the contact 54 to the contact 50 and through the lead 51 to the line 23. e a i I The energizing'lof k the magnet including the winding -49 jimpart smovement to the movable contacts 46, 47 arid48 of the secondary opening switch mechanismJand engages them with the fixed contacts 43,- 44 and 45, thus closing the circuit fromthe mains 21, 22 and 23 to the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20. This circuit is kept closed until the contact member 54 passes out of engagement withthe movable contact 52, whereupon the electrO-magnet includingthe winding 49 is de-energized and the movablecontacts 46 and 47 are permitted to be moved by the spring operative" thereon so asto interrupt the circuit.

It will be noted that the lines 21 and 23, as controlled-*by the secondary opening switch mechanism, contain therein the resistances 59 and 60 so as to impress a lowpotential current upon the shaft lines 18, 19 and20.

Extreme nicety in the setting of the time controlled switch mechanism is unnecessary, since even though the circuit impressed upon the lines 18, 19 and 20 continues after the door has reached the fullyopen position, there will be slippage between the connections 12 and 13 and the sheaves l4 and "15 over which they'pass;

During the final closing movement of the door, as a result of the slow operation of the motors 16 and 17, the closing power will be so low that if any portion of the human body should be interposed between the two doors, no crushing stresses would be present, and immediately upon'the re moval of the resistance to the movement of the door, closing movement will be resumed. In the event of impedance to the movement of the doors, after the application of a low potential current to the motors, slippage will occur between the connections 12 and 13 and the sheaves 14 and 15. To accommodate the device to the above conditions, it is desirable to apply the low potential current to the motors 16 and 17 over a time interval beyond that required to actually complete the closing movement of the doors, thus avoiding any extreme nicety in the regulation'oi the said time controlledmechanism.

If the shaft switch 68 be used, the operation in opening a door will be identical with that heretofore described, ,withthe exception that the circuit including the windings 39 and 55 is closed across the lines 63 and 65 and through the limit switch 67. The use of the limit switch in this circuit is essential to avoid continued application of the high potential current to the shaft lines 18, 19 and 20 throughout the full opening movement of the door. If the switch mechanism 68 is not used, the limit switch 67 need be only momentarily opened, but if the switch 68 is used, then after the, limit switch has once been opened, it must beheld open until the door is fully open.

In closing the doors, the operation is the same as that heretofore described, excepting that by thepole changing effects secured by the main closing switch mechanism 70 and the secondary closing switch mechanism 80, the motors 16 and 1'7 are each caused to turn in the opposite-direction. When it is desired to close a door, the manually operative closing control switch is actuated momentarily. This closes the circuit including the windings 79 and 94 in the manner described in connection with the electromagnets operative upon the main opening switch mechanism and the associated time controlled switch mechanism. The closing of the main closing switch mechanism actuates the holding switch mechanism 112 in the same manner that the holding switch mechanism 64 is actuated.

The operation of the time controlled switch mechanism 88 is the same as that heretofore described in connection with the time controlled switch mechanism 32.

As the door approaches the fully closed position, the limit switch 115 is opened, thus interrupting the circuit controlled by the holding switch mechanism 112 resulting in the opening of the main closing switch mechanism 70 and the de-energizing of the magnet including the winding 94, so as to permit the operation of thetime controlled switch mechanism 88 for the purpose. of securing the time intervals during which the door is permitted to coast by momentum, followed by the application of a low potential current to. the lines 18, 19 and 20 as a result of the closing of the secondary closing switch mechanism 80. The operation of all of these parts is the same as that heretofore described in connection with the opening of a door, so that a detailed description of this operation is unnecessary. The circuits have already been described and can be clearly traced in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The car control switch mechanism 116 is connected around the closing switch 110 and through contact member 117 is moved into engagement with the contacts 119 and 120, according to whether the car is to move upwardly or downwardly. This contact need be only momentary, since the holding switch mechanism 112 will ensure a continued application of a high potential current to the line until the limit switch 115 has been actuated by the door movement. The necessity for keeping the limit switch 115 open is not present when using the switch mechanism 116, if there is only a momentary engagement of the contact 117 With a contact 119 or 120.

The circuits set up as a result of the actuation of themanually operative control switch 110 will be the same in relation to the main closing switch mechanism '70, the secondary closing switch mechanism and time controlled switch mechanism 88 as those shown in Fig. 3 in relation to the main opening switch mechanism 30 and the time controlled switch mechanism 32; and the operative eifect of the time controlled switch mechanism 88 will be the same in relation to the secondary control switch mechanism 80, as shown in Fig. 4, in connection with the secondary switch mechanism 31.

In the accompanying drawings, the showing of the various switch mechanisms is purely conventionaLsuch being capable of wide structural variation while still securing the desired mode of operation.

The essential characteristic of the invention is the arrangement of circuit control devices by which the actuation of a remote control switch will temporarily close the circuit from the mains to the shaft line, to cause the operation of the door at high speed and the closing of a holding circuitto maintain this condition, and the setting of a time controlled switch mechanism, the holding circuit having therein a limit switch actuated by the-movement of the door for interrupting the holding circuit before the door has completed its full movement, and a secondary switch mechanism actuated by a delayed actuation of said time controlled switch mechanism to close a circuit from the mains to the shaft line through resistances to ensure a final door movement at low speed.

The arrangement of the various electrical devices above referred to may be utilized solely for opening a door or solely for closing a door, but preferably the mechanisms are duplicated so that the door may be both opened and closed with the desired change of pace in the door movement.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:--

1. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of a normally open main opening switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electro-magncts may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary opening switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, and a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door.

2-. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of a normally open main closing switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electro-magnets may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary closing switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, and a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door.

3. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of normally open main opening and closing switch mechanisms, each including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism associated with each of said main switch mechanisms, and including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, selectivley operative remote control switches whereby circuits including the windings of the electro-magnets of either said main opening'or said main closing switch mechanism, and of the'time controlled mechanism associated therewith, may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to' set a time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism associated with each main switch mechanism and controlling a circuit including the windingsembodied in'the main control switch mechanism and its associated time controlled mechanism, normally open secondary opening and closingswitch mechanisms, each embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, electrical connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanisms and said shaft line,

' therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch-mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding,a remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electro-magnets may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary opening switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro -magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlledrmechanism and said last named winding, and a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled' by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door, said limit switch being so positioned in relation to the door, and said time controlled mechanism being so set as to ensure the opening of said main opening switch mechanismfor a short interval prior to the closing of the circuit by said secondaryclosing switch mechanism,

5. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an-elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated 'mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of a normally open main closing switch'mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnethaving a winding, a remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electro-magnets may.

be temporarily closed to place said source in connection withsaid line and'to set said time con trolled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary closing switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism andsaid last named winding, and a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled bysaid holding switch and operable by movement of the door, said limit switch being so positioned in relation to the door, and said time controlledmechanism being so set, as to ensure the opening of said main closingv switch mechanism for a short interval prior to the closing of the circuit by said secondary closing switchmechanism.

6. An operator forelevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of normally open main opening, and closing switch mechanisms, each including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a'winding acting thereon, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism; associated with each of said main switch mechanisms and including therein an electromagnet having a winding, selectively operative remote'control switches whereby circuits including the windings of the electro-magnets of either said main opening or said main closing switch mechanism, and of the time controlled mechanism associated therewith, may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set a time controlled switch mechanism, a normallyopen'holding switch mechanism associated with each main switch mechanism and controlling a circuit including the windings embodied in themain control switch mechanism and its associated time controlled mechanism, normally open secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms, each embodying therein movable contacts andan electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, electrical connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanisms and said shaft line, electrical connections including each of said time controlled mechanisms and the windings of the electro-magnets, embodied in said secondary switch mechanisms respectively, and normally closed limit switches included in the circuits controlled by said holding switches respectively and operable by movement of the door, said limit switches respectively being so positioned in relation to thedoor, and said time controlled mechanisms being so set as to ensure the opening of said main opening or said main closing switch mechanism for a short interval prior to the closing of the circuit by said secondary closing switch mechanism.

,7. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of a normally open main opening switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a manually operative remote control switch whereby circuits 'including the windings of both of said electro-magnets may be'temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary opening switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanismand said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of. the door, a normally open switch mechanism in the shaft adjacent a door, means carried by the car operative upon said shaft switch, and electrical connections between said shaft switch and said source, and between said shaft switch and the winding of the electro-magnet of said main opening switch mechanism, whereby said main switch mechanism" may be temporarily actuated independently of said manually operative remote control switch.

8. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of a'normally open main closing switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a manually operative remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electromagnets may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary closing switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door, a controller for applying power to cause movement of an elevator car, a switch mechanism having a movable contact actuated by said controller and co-operating fixed contacts, and electrical connections between said movable contact and said source, and between said fixed contacts respectively and the winding of the electro-magnet of said main closing switch mechanism, whereby the movement of said controller will cause a temporary actuation of the main closing switch.

9. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, .of a normally open main opening switch mechanism including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding, connections between said switch mechanism and said shaft line, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism including therein an electro-magnet having a winding, a manually operative remote control switch whereby circuits including the windings of both of said electromagnets may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said line and to set said time controlled switch mechanism, a, normally open holding switch mechanism controlling a circuit including both of said windings, a normally open secondary opening switch mechanism embodying therein movable contacts and an electromagnet having a winding, connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanism and said shaft line, electrical connections including said time controlled mechanism and said last named winding, a normally closed limit switch included in the circuit controlled by said holding switch and operable by movement of the door, a normally' openswitch mechanism in the shaft adjacent a door, means carried by the car operative 'upon said shaft switch, electrical connections between said shalt switch and said source, and between said shatt switch and the winding 01' the electro-magnet of said main opening switch mechanism, whereby said main switch mechanism may be temporarily actuated independently of said manually operative remote control switch, a controller for applying power to cause movement of an elevator car, a switch mechanism having a movable contact actuated by said controller and co-operating fixed contacts, and electrical connections between said movable contact and said source, and between said fixed contacts respectively and the winding of the electro-magnet of said main closing switch mechanism, whereby the movement of said controller will cause a temporary actuation of the main'clos'ing switch.

10. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of normally open main opening and closing switch mechanisms, each including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism associated with each of said main switch mechanisms and including therein an electro-magnet-having a winding, selectively operative remote control switches whereby circuits including the windings oi the electro-magnets of either said main opening or said main closing switch mechanism, and of the time controlled mechanism'associated therewith, may be temporarily closed to'plac e said source in connection with said line and to set atime controlled switch mechanism, "a normally open holding switch mechanism associated with each main switch mechanism and controlling a circuit including the windings embodied in the main control switch mechanism and its associated time controlled mechanism, normally open secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms, each embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, electrical connections including a resistance between said secondary switch mechanisms and said shaft line, electrical connections including each of said time controlled mechanisms and the windings of the electro-magnets embodied in said secondary switch mechanisms respectively, normally closed limit switches included in the circuits controlled by said holding switches respectively and operable by movement of the door, and means actuated by the operation of the movable contacts of one of said main switch mechanisms, and operative upon the movable contacts of the other of said switch mechanisms, whereby with the actuation of one of said main switch mechanisms the other of said main switch mechanisms will be made inoperative.

11. An operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon, an electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with said line, of normally open main opening and closing switch mechanisms, each including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, a normally open time controlled switch mechanism associatedwith, each of said main switch mechanisms and'includingtherein an electro-magnet having-fa Winding, selectively operative remote control :switches whereby ,cir:

cuits including the windings of the :electro-magnets of either said main opening or said; main closing switch mechanism, and of the time controlled mechanism associated therewith, may be temporarily closed= to place said source in connection withsaidline andtoseta time controlled switchmechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism associatedwith each main switch mechanism and .controllinga circuit including thewindings embodiedin the main control switchmechanism andits associated time controlled mechanism, normally open secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms, each embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, electrical connections including a resistance between said secondarylswitch vmechanisms and said shaft line, electrical'connections including each of said time controlled mechanisms and the windings; oi the electro-magnetsembodied in said secondary switchmechanisms respectively, normally closed limit switches. included in the circuits controlled-by said holding switches respectively and operable by, movement of the door, a rock shaft intermediate said main switch mechanisms and a cross-arm carried by said shaft with its oppositeends engageable respectively with the movable contacts of said switch mechanisms, whereby with the actuation of one of said main switch mechanisms the other of said main switch mechanisms will be made inoperative. 1 I g i 12. An. operator for elevator doors embodying therein the combination: with an elevator door, a reversible electric motor actuated mechanism operative thereon,lan, electrical source, a shaft line, and means whereby said motor may be selectively connected with sai-dlin'e, of normally open ;main opening and closing switch mechanisms,I each including therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, axnormally open time controlled switch mechanism associated with each of said main switch mechanisms and including therein an electro -magnet having a winding, selectively operative remote control switches whereby circuits including the windings of the electro-magnets of either said main opening or said main closing switch mechanism, and of the time controlled mechanism associated therewith, may be temporarily closed to place said source in connection with said .line and to set a time controlled switch mechanism, a normally open holding switch mechanism associated with each main switch mechanism and controllingacircuit including the windings embodied in the main control switch mechanism and its associated time controlled mechanism, normally open secondary opening and closing switch mechanisms, each embodying therein movable contacts and an electro-magnet having a winding acting thereon, electrical connections including'a resistance between said secondary switch mechanisms and said shaft line, electrical connections including each of said time controlled mechanisms and the windings of the electro-magnets embodied in said secondary switch mechanisms respectively, normally closed limit switches included in the circuits controlled by said holding switches respectively and operable by movement of thedoor, and means actuated, by the operation of the movable contacts of one of said mainor one of said secondary switch mechanisms and operative upon the movablecontacts of theother of said main or said secondary switch mechanisms, whereby with the actuation of one of said main or said secondary switch mechanisms ithe other of said main or saidsecondary switchi'mechanisms will be made inoperative.

ROBERT S. PEELLE. 

